Elk&#39;s clock.



T. w. SHEPHERD.

ELKS CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 10,1913.

Patented Jan.18, 1916.

dial arranged thereon.

THOMAS VT. SHEPHERD, OF VIALTHAIVI, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELKS CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

application filed December 10, 1913. Serial No. 805,841..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, 'lrroams Fi SHEP- HERD, a citizen of the ldnited States, residing at Vl altham, in the county of lrliddlesex and Stateof Massachusetts,- have invented an Improvement in Elks Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of clocks ordinarily termed Ellis clocks, and has for its object the provision. of a. dummy clock-dial adapted to be placed over the regular clock-dial, which is arranged for detachable connection, whereby at the desired times loIIlJJ/llfi placed in position for use, and at other times may be removed in order that the regular clock-dial may be exposed to view; also to provide means for illuminating a star or other insignia and for controlling the illumination thereof by means operated by the clock-train whereby it will be illuminated at any predetermined time, as eleven ocloclr for instance.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a clock with a' dummy clock-dial placed in position in front of the regular clockdial. Fi 2 is a similar View, the door being opened to expose the regular cloclodial,

the dummy dial being represented in edge view, on the door. Fig; 3 is a rear side elevation, of a portion of the door'with dummy Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the door and dummy dial shown in Fig. 3, taken just above the upper hinge. Fig. '5 is a verticalsection of the door and dummy dial shownin Fig. 3 taken onthe dotted line 55. a, I

a The clock itselfmay, so far as this invention is concerned. the of any well-known or suitable construction, 'avportionot a chimeclock being here shown, of which 10 represents the clock-dial, 12 and 13 the hands,

- hinges 15 and 16, at one side of the clockcase, said door having any usual glass face 17. I

Upon the rear side of the door the dummy clock-dial is arranged to-be supported, and, as here shown, said dummy dial consists of a dial-plate 20, made approximately; square, and having a semi-circular extension 21 at the top, and said plate and its extension are formedwith a marginal flange 22, arranged at right angles thereto, adapting it to be placed inside of and fitted snugly within a flange 25, which is arranged on the rear side of the door, itslower end resting on a ledge clock.

26, extended horizontally from the flange at one side to the flange at the other side of the door. Said plate is arran ed for detachable connection with the door, and, as here shown, is provided with several sliding spring-bolts, of any common construction, three being shown, as 30, 31 and 32 which are mounted to slide in supports on the flange 22 of the plate and adapted to enter recesses in the ledge 26 and in the flange of the door. Upon a sliding movement of the vbolts the dummy-plate may be connected with and disconnected from the door, and

, when connected therewith is supported by it at that portion thereof directly in front of the regular clock-dial. Said dummyeplate has arranged on its facea pair of clockhands 35, 30, which are pivotally connected thereto, although they may be otherwise supported, in view of the fact that it is clesigned and intended that they shall point to the hour of eleven ocloclr, as represented in Fig. 1. In the extension of the plate a star shapcd piece of glass 40 is set, and on the back-side of said extension a circular ring 41 is arranged for supporting five or any other number of electric lamps 42,

which, when turned on will illuminate the star. Said lamps are des1gned to be turned on at a predeterminedtime, as for instance, at eleven ocl-ock, and herein automatic means are prOV1CleCl'fOItl11S purpose, consisting of an electric circuit for said lamps,

which is connected with a battery or other source of current and to be closed automatically by one of the regular hands of the Referring to Fig. 2, wherein the regular clock-dial and hands are shown, 45 represents a conducting block arranged in but insulated from the regular cloclodial to be engaged by the hour hand 12', which hand remains in engagement therewith for a short period of time. Said conducting block is electrically connected with the block 46 as for instance, the twoblocks 4-5 and 46 may be the same strip of metal and both insulated from the clock dial. Said block 46 is arranged for engagement with a conductingblock 47, which is arranged on but insulated from the dummy plate, such engagement of the blocks being eli'ected when the door is closed. A circuit-wire 48 leads from the block 47, which includes the several elec tric lamps in' series relation, and is connected with one of the sliding-bolts 32,

which latter is insulated from the dummyplate, and said sliding-bolt is made long enough to extend through a hole in the flange on the door and engage one of the hinges 15, to which one of the leading-in wires 50 is connected. One of the bolts as 30 is adapted to engage a conducting plate 52, the latter being in circuit through a Wire 53 with the oth r hinge 16, to which the other circuit main is connected. With the door closed and the hand 12 in position to engage the contact the circuit is as follows: from the main 50 through the hinge 15, bolt 32, lamps in series, Wire 48, block i7, block l6, block 45, hand 12, main dial, flange bolt 30, strip 52, conductor 53, hinge l6 and main 5%. Thus it will be observed that When the dummy-plate is connected With the door and the door is closed the circuit-connections are completed With the exception of closing the hand 12 on the block l5, Which occurs when said hand points to the hour designed. lVhen the dummy-plate is detached from the door, as it will be at all times when not in use, the circuit-connections are broken by disengaging the block ll, from the block L6, so that even when the hand 12 engages the block d5 the circuit will not be closed. Furthermore, when the dummy dial is removed the insignia and also the illuminating elements are also removed With it and the regular clockdial is exposed to View.

I claim 1. A clock having a dummy clock-dial and hands and an insignia arranged for detachable connection in front ol the regular clockdial and hands, and means for electrically illuminating said insignia at a predeter mined time arranged for operation by the regular hands of the clock, substantially as described.

2. A clock having a dial and hands, a dummy dial and hands adapted for morement to and from a position to conceal the first mentioned dial, an electrically operated insignia controlled by the position of the hands of the first mentioned dial.

3. A time-piece having a regular dial and hands, a dummydial and hands adapted to be disposed to conceal the regular dial and hands, and electrically operated means involving a circuit closed in the predetermined position of one of the regular hands and ot' the dummy dial.

in testimony whereof, it have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS ll. SHEPHERD.

Witnesses B. J. NoYns, H. B. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

